The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has extended flight restrictions for US airlines in Haitian airspace until March 12, 2025. This decision follows a series of violent incidents at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, where gang violence has been on the rise. The airport had been closed to commercial flights for most of November due to safety concerns.
In November 2024, several commercial aircraft from Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, and American Airlines were hit by gunfire while preparing to land at the airport. Although there were no fatalities, these attacks led to significant safety concerns. A flight attendant was injured aboard a Spirit Airlines plane, prompting the FAA to initially ban US airlines from flying to Haiti for 30 days. This restriction has now been extended.
Under the FAA's Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM), US aircraft are prohibited from flying over Haiti below an altitude of 10,000 feet due to security threats posed by armed gangs around the capital. These restrictions were first enforced after shooting incidents on November 11 and were intended to be lifted in December but have been prolonged due to ongoing insecurity.